Generic precursors to coastal earthquakes: Inferences from Denali fault earthquake

Recent research has shown evidence of strong coupling between the atmosphere and lithosphere in coastal regions, associating abnormal atmospheric phenomena to the occurrence of strong earthquakes. Surface latent heat flux (SLHF), total column water vapor (CWV), relative humidity (RH) and total ozone column (TOC), analyzed over the epicentral region of the Denali fault earthquake of November 3, 2002, exhibit anomalous behavior that could be related to the earthquake preparatory process and its occurrence. The complementary nature of the parameters provides strong support that the anomalous values were driven by lithospheric processes, rather than other atmospheric phenomena. Due to the wide availability of remote sensing observations of atmospheric parameters, the detection of anomalies can be used to mitigate the earthquake risks.     

Predicting Wheat Grain and Biomass Yield Using Canopy Reflectance of Booting Stage

Field experiment was conducted in a sandy loam soil of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during the year 2011–13 to see the effect of irrigation, mulch and nitrogen on canopy spectral reflectance indices and their use in predicting the grain and biomass yield of wheat. The canopy reflectances were measured using a hand held ASD FieldSpec Spectroradiometer at booting stage of wheat. Four spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) viz. RNDVI (Red Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), GNDVI (Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), SR (Simple Ratio) and WI (Water Index) were computed using the spectral reflectance data. Out of these four indices, RNDVI, GNDVI and SR were significantly and positively related with the grain and biomass yield of wheat whereas WI was significantly and negatively related with the grain and biomass yield of wheat. Calibration with the second year data showed that among the SRIs, WI could account for respectively, 85 % and 86 % variation in grain and biomass yield of wheat with least RMSE (395 kg ha^?1 (15 %) for grain yield and 1609 kg ha^?1 (20 %) for biomass yield) and highest d index (0.95 for grain yield and 0.91 for biomass yield). Therefore it can be concluded that WI measured at booting stage can be successfully used for prediction of grain and biomass yield of wheat.     

Comparison of sampling methods for inventorying the stand volume using satellite remote sensing

Remote sensing is being increasingly used for forest resource inventory as it saves time and the cost. Aerial photographs and satellite images have been effectively utilized for forest inventory all over the world. This study highlights the application of IRS LISS-III imagery for inventorying the stand volume in Lachchhiwala Forest Range of Siwaliks. The satellite image was visually interpreted for forest type and density stratification. Both random as well as stratified random sampling techniques were used to see their impact on the volume estimates. Field sampling was done in the plots of 0.1 ha size. The total growing stock in all types of forests in the study area was estimated to be 1.87 mill.m³, of which Sal Forest accounted for 1.32 mill.m³, Sal Mixed Forest for 0.09 mill.m³, Mixed Sal Forest for 0.08 mill.m³, Miscellaneous Forest for 0.06 mill.m³ and Forest Plantations for 0.02 mill.m³. The results were compared with an independent field-based inventory carried out by forest department. The two sampling methods were compared by ratioing of the mean of variance (gain in precision) and it was found that the timber volume estimates using stratified random sampling technique were 15 per cent more accurate than simple random sampling. The satellite image-based inventory using stratified random sampling was found to have about 90 per cent correspondence with the inventory done by the Forest Department.     

Extreme rainfall event of July 25–27, 2005 over Mumbai, West Coast, India

Extreme localised rainfall events are part of monsoon system occurring every year. Satellite data (TRMM and other geostationary satellites) together with ground observations will be useful in providing spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric changes. The short and long term variability is required for better understanding of the local and regional climatic conditions through detailed modelling. Such information will play a key role in real time data analysis and dissemination system to the disaster management groups in the country to minimize losses due to these extreme rainfall events.     

LRS Bianchi type-V universes filled with matter and radiation

In this paper we have investigated some LRS Bianchi type-V cosmologicla models representing a viscous fluid distribution with a null electromagnetic field and streaming neutrinos. Various physical and kinematical features of these models have also been explored.     

Extraction of geomorphological features using radarsat data

A study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of RADARSAT SAR data (Standard-7 and Wide-2 beam positions) for delineating the geomophological units in Itanagar Capital Complex of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been applied to Standard-7 and Wide-2 data with incidence angle 45° – 49° and 31 ° – 39° respectively. The resulting components yield imagery that highlights the Geomorphological units. The area of investigation has been classified into five geomophological units’ viz., High relief structural hills, low relief structural hills, low relief rugged hills, piedmont and intermontane valley. The surface roughness can be observed by studying the difference of the responses from different incidence angles. Wide-2 beam position was found to be more useful for identifying features in flat terrain, and Standard-7 beam position data for features of high relief.     

Arsenic mobility in fluvial environment of the Ganga Plain,northern India

In the northern part of the Indian sub-continent, the Gomati River (a tributary of the Ganga River) was selected to study the dynamics of Arsenic (As) mobilization in fluvial environment of the Ganga Plain. It is a 900-km-long, groundwater-fed, low-gradient, alluvial river characterized by monsoon-controlled peaked discharge. Thirty-six water samples were collected from the river and its tributaries at low discharge during winter and summer seasons and were analysed by ICP-MS. Dissolved As and Fe concentrations were found in the range of 1.29–9.62 and 47.84–431.92 μg/L, respectively. Arsenic concentration in the Gomati River water has been detected higher than in its tributaries water and characteristically increases in downstream, attributed to the downstream increasing of Fe₂O₃ content, sedimentary organic carbon and silt-clay content in the river sediments. Significant correlation of determination (r ² = 0.68) was also observed between As and Fe concentrations in the river water. Arsenic concentrations in the river water are likely to follow the seasonal temperature variation and reach the level of World Health Organization’s permissible limit (10 μg/L) for drinking water in summer season. The Gomati River longitudinally develops reducing conditions after the monsoon season that mobilize As into the river water. First, dissolved As enters into pore-water of the river bed sediments by the reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides/hydroxides due to microbial degradation of sedimentary organic matter. Thereafter, it moves upward as well as down slope into the river water column. Anthropogenically induced biogeochemical processes and tropical climatic condition have been considered the responsible factors that favour the release of As in the fluvial environment of the Ganga Plain. The present study can be considered as an environmental alarm for future as groundwater resources of the Ganga–Brahmaputra Delta are seriously affecting the human–environment relationship at present.     

LRS Bianchi type-II massive string cosmological model in General Relativity

The present study deals with locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type II cosmological model representing massive string. The energy-momentum tensor for such string as formulated by Letelier (Phys. Rev. D 28:2414, 1983) is used to construct massive string cosmological model for which we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to the shear (σ). This condition leads to A=B ^m , where A and B are the metric coefficients and m is proportionality constant. For suitable choice of constant m, it is observed that in early stage of the evolution of the universe string dominates over the particle whereas the universe is dominated by massive string at the late time. Our model is in accelerating phase which is consistent to the recent observations of type Is supernovae. Some physical and geometric behavior of the model is also discussed.     

Upright folding of varying intensity on isoclinal folds of diverse orientation: A study from the early Precambrians of Western India

In the Early Precambrian Banded Gneissic Complex between Amet and Lawa Sardargarh in central Rajasthan, India, open to isoclinal upright folds with NNE-striking axial planes have affected westerly plunging isoclinal folds of reclined, inclined and rare upright attitudes. Interference patterns of diverse shapes ranging in scale from inches to miles have been caused by variable angle between the axes and axial planes of the early folds, angular variation in the attitudes of the two fold systems, and spatial variation in the tightness of the later folding.

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Zusammenfassung In dem früh-präkambrischen gebänderten Gneißkomplex zwischen Amet und Lawa Sardargarh in Mittel-Rajasthan, Indien, haben offene bis isoklinale, senkrechte Falten mit NNE-streichenden Axialflächen nach Westen abtauchende isoklinale Falten überprägt, die selbst eine geneigte, überkippte oder seltener senkrechte Lage aufweisen. Überlagerungsmuster von unterschiedlicher Form und Größe (von Zoll bis zu Meilen) wurden verursacht durch 1. verschiedene Winkel zwischen den Achsen und den Axialflächen früherer Falten, 2. Winkelveränderungen in der Anordnung der zwei Faltensysteme und 3. räumliche Veränderungen in der Dichte der späteren Faltung.

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Résumé Dans l'ensemble de gneiss zoné du Précambrien inférieur entre Amet et Lawa Sardargarh, à Rajasthan central aux Indes, des plissements ouverts à isoclinaux, de direction NNE, ont affecté des plissements isoclinaux reclinés, inclinés ou rarement verticaux, plongeant vers l'ouest. Des patrons d'interférence de formes diverses, à l'extension d'un centimètre au kilomètre, ont été causés par des angles variables entre les axes et les surfaces axiales des premiers plissements, des variations angulaires dans la disposition des deux systèmes de plissement, et des variations d'espace des plissements postérieurs.

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